Pope Benedict stresses need for peace; moral values to South African president

Vatican City, May 5, 2005 / 22:00 pm

This morning at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI received South African President Thabo M. Mbeki, with whom, he stressed the Church’s responsibility to promote moral values in that country and the world.

Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls announced this morning that the Holy Father held audience with Mbeki, “accompanied by his wife and an entourage.”

"During the meeting,” Navarro-Valls continued, “the president explained the situation in South Africa to His Holiness, also with reference to the rest of the African continent.”

To this, the press release noted, "The Holy Father emphasized the role the Republic of South Africa can play as a factor for peace throughout the continent” and “underlined the Church's responsibility in promoting moral values in the Republic of South Africa and in the world."